Kiro gets up. Hears it on the speakers.
He lost.
KIRO: "Now I know I'm in trouble. This place should have been easy. But who sent an army man here?"
A random fighter approaches.
He looks at Kiro with calm eyes.
RANDOM FIGHTER: "Seems like it was ring out. You would have fought me next. You looked like a martial artist."
The man stands 6'2". Tall. Slender.
White sleeves draped over his arms. A white cloth wrapped around the lower half of his face not a mask, but a covering. Like he's hiding something. Or protecting something.
His eyes are visible. Dark. Calm. Watching.
The rest of his identity is hidden.
KIRO: "And who are you?"
THE MAN: "Just a stranger. Too bad I couldn't fight you. You seemed like you knew martial arts. But now... I see you're not ready. You lost. You are weak."
KIRO: "You might be right. With rules, it's very different. I was in an arena with no rules. Even killing was legal."
THE MAN: "Brutal place. But here's the truth you lost to the rules. And martial arts have a lot of rules."
He holds up three fingers.
"The rules are:
Don't go out of bounds.
No killing.
Knock out or out for ten seconds... you lose."
KIRO: "Nice rules. This makes it harder. Out of bounds..."
He looks at the man.
"See you then. Maybe we fight someday."
Kiro exits.
And runs straight into a very angry trader.
The man is short. Fat. 5'4". Face twisted with fury.
TRADER: "You! How dare you make me lose four million credits? That's all of my creds!"
KIRO: "Who are you? I've done no such thing."
TRADER: "I bet on four fights. I'm a big time trader here soon to be small time. I still have to pay my miners."
He jabs a finger at Kiro.
"You came in as a rookie. Obvious bet is against the rookie when he fights a vet. But you one-shot him. No big deal."
His voice rises.
"Then my big time money bags the Beast. You beat him too. Then the swordsman. He lost."
He breathes heavily.
"Finally... I gave in. I bet on you. Then you lost. Out of bounds."
KIRO: "What must I do about that? I don't have those kinds of credits for you."
TRADER: "Fine. You owe me. But..."
He squints.
"Did you get your payment yet?"
KIRO: "Sure. I've got a village. If you're looking for work, I'm looking for people. And I'm about to be scolded by an evil witch. So please... accepted."
The trader's eyes light up.
TRADER: "Ooh, now we're talking. This way, good sir."
They head to the payment area.
Kiro collects his money.
CREDITS:
909,060
Add 100,000
= 909,160
KIRO: "Nice payment."
They go back to Veyra.
VEYRA: "You came back fast, champ. Are you one? And how much money did you earn for the village? And who is this?"
The trader's eyes light up with hearts.
TRADER: "Madam, I am a legendary rich trader... about to join your village."
He kisses her hand.
Veyra's face pulls an "eww."
Kiro looks angry.
KIRO: "That's evil. And stop kissing her hand."
VEYRA: "New member? So... Kiro told you the village is broke?"
TRADER: "Wait... what?"
KIRO: "He's broke too. By the way, I lost to an army guy. They're on our tail."
Veyra looks upset.
VEYRA: "You... whaaaaaaat?"
TRADER: "So... she's the witch."
Veyra looks even angrier. Face red.
She slaps Kiro.
VEYRA: "Anyway. Good sir, what are you offering?"
Kiro rubs his face.
TRADER: "Well, ma'am, I don't know what to offer. I'm broke too. I've got miners."
VEYRA: "Nice. We start there. I bet this place has a lot of mines. You probably don't know yet. It's a run-down village next to that army base."
TRADER: "Oh, that one? We could get permission to mine there from the government. But now you two own it, so we can mine. Earn money for you. So... 70 percent for me and my boys."
VEYRA: "Oh, 70 percent? Should I slap you harder than I slapped Kiro, broke boy? It's 20 percent."
TRADER: "Come on. That's too little. 40 percent."
Kiro is still sitting. Drinking a grey gas station drink.
KIRO: "Drop it, man. She won't accept any percent. 20 is good in her standards."
TRADER: "Fine. You're right."